Golf: Mo Martin rules at Women’s British Open

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |

The Record

SOUTHPORT, England — Mo Martin knew she hit her 3-wood exactly how she wanted to on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale.

With the ball slightly below her feet, just under 240 yards away and a strong wind at her back, she let it rip and watched the ball track toward the flag. Martin thought it was short. Then she thought it might be too long. Moments later, she realized just how good it was.

"I could hear it hit the pin from the fairway," Martin said. "That was a pretty fun feeling."

The ball rolled into the center of the flagstick and settled 6 feet away for an eagle, and when no one could catch her, the 31-year-old American became a major champion Sunday at the Women's British Open.

"I think I still need to be pinched," Martin said after closing with a par 72 for a one-shot victory over Shanshan Feng of China and Suzann Pettersen of Norway.

Martin earned $474,575 — she had $599,760 in career money when she arrived in England.

Americans now have won the first three majors of the LPGA Tour season for the first time since 1999.

Marina Alex of Wayne finished in a three-way tie for ninth after shooting a final-round 76 to finished at 4-over 292. The former Vanderbilt All-American finished strong, carding birdies on the par-4 16th and par-5 18th to earn $72,911.

Harman a winner

SILVIS, Ill. — Brian Harman used three straight birdies down the stretch to hold off Zach Johnson by one stroke and win the John Deere Classic for his first PGA Tour title.

Harman, in his third full season on the tour, had a 5-under 66 in the final round for a 22-under 262 total. The Georgian, 27, earned $846,000 and the last exemption for next week's British Open.

Harman withstood Johnson's challenge by making three birdies beginning at No. 14 to get to 23-under with two to play. Johnson, playing four pairs ahead of Harman, birdied the 17th to get within a stroke but ran out of holes.

"It was very hard, probably one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do in my life," Harman said. "Just trying not to let your mind run wild is the hardest part out there."

Jhonattan Vegas had a 65 to finish tied for third with Jerry Kelly (66) at 265. Scott Brown (68) and Tim Clark (67) tied for fifth at another shot back.

Rose is on a roll

ABERDEEN, Scotland — Justin Rose won the Scottish Open by two shots after a final-round 6-under 65, sealing back-to-back victories on either side of the Atlantic and bolstering his confidence ahead of this week's British Open.

The 2013 U.S. Open champion turned the last day into a procession, rolling in six birdies and going bogey-free on a windless Royal Aberdeen links course that was there for the taking on a day of low scoring. Unheralded Swede Kristoffer Broberg finished second at 14-under after a 66.

Golf: Mo Martin rules at Women’s British Open

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |

The Record

SOUTHPORT, England — Mo Martin knew she hit her 3-wood exactly how she wanted to on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale.

With the ball slightly below her feet, just under 240 yards away and a strong wind at her back, she let it rip and watched the ball track toward the flag. Martin thought it was short. Then she thought it might be too long. Moments later, she realized just how good it was.

"I could hear it hit the pin from the fairway," Martin said. "That was a pretty fun feeling."

The ball rolled into the center of the flagstick and settled 6 feet away for an eagle, and when no one could catch her, the 31-year-old American became a major champion Sunday at the Women's British Open.

"I think I still need to be pinched," Martin said after closing with a par 72 for a one-shot victory over Shanshan Feng of China and Suzann Pettersen of Norway.

Martin earned $474,575 — she had $599,760 in career money when she arrived in England.

Americans now have won the first three majors of the LPGA Tour season for the first time since 1999.

Marina Alex of Wayne finished in a three-way tie for ninth after shooting a final-round 76 to finished at 4-over 292. The former Vanderbilt All-American finished strong, carding birdies on the par-4 16th and par-5 18th to earn $72,911.

Harman a winner

SILVIS, Ill. — Brian Harman used three straight birdies down the stretch to hold off Zach Johnson by one stroke and win the John Deere Classic for his first PGA Tour title.

Harman, in his third full season on the tour, had a 5-under 66 in the final round for a 22-under 262 total. The Georgian, 27, earned $846,000 and the last exemption for next week's British Open.

Harman withstood Johnson's challenge by making three birdies beginning at No. 14 to get to 23-under with two to play. Johnson, playing four pairs ahead of Harman, birdied the 17th to get within a stroke but ran out of holes.

"It was very hard, probably one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do in my life," Harman said. "Just trying not to let your mind run wild is the hardest part out there."

Jhonattan Vegas had a 65 to finish tied for third with Jerry Kelly (66) at 265. Scott Brown (68) and Tim Clark (67) tied for fifth at another shot back.

Rose is on a roll

ABERDEEN, Scotland — Justin Rose won the Scottish Open by two shots after a final-round 6-under 65, sealing back-to-back victories on either side of the Atlantic and bolstering his confidence ahead of this week's British Open.

The 2013 U.S. Open champion turned the last day into a procession, rolling in six birdies and going bogey-free on a windless Royal Aberdeen links course that was there for the taking on a day of low scoring. Unheralded Swede Kristoffer Broberg finished second at 14-under after a 66.